IHG Hotels & Resorts is set to open its second luxury and lifestyle hotel in Kazakhstan, following the successful InterContinental Almaty. The new 95-room property, part of the Vignette Collection, has been signed under a franchise agreement with Meliora, a subsidiary of HAYAT Construction.
Scheduled to open in the first half of 2027, the Vignette Collection hotel will be part of the Meliora mixed-use development, strategically located on the main road around Almaty’s city centre. This prime location offers direct access to the airport and key attractions such as Kok Tobe Park, making it ideal for both business and leisure travellers.
The Vignette Collection, IHG’s first collection brand, is known for its unique, hand-picked hotels that provide memorable stays in remarkable destinations. With 12 hotels currently open worldwide and 23 more in the pipeline, the brand focuses on individuality, intrigue, and responsible travel. Each Vignette Collection property features Memorable Rituals that connect guests with the local culture, and an ‘A Means For Good’ partnership with local non-profits to benefit the communities they operate in.
The upcoming Almaty hotel will showcase these brand hallmarks, offering stylish guest rooms, a destination restaurant and bar, and premium wellness facilities including a spa and gym. This new addition will further strengthen IHG’s Vignette Collection portfolio in Europe, which currently includes three open hotels and seven in development.
Willemijn Geels, Vice President of Development for Europe at IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed her excitement about the project: “We are delighted to grow our long-standing partnership with Mr. Kassanov and bring the first Vignette Collection property to Kazakhstan. Almaty is the country’s cultural centre and the perfect location for our Vignette Collection brand – bringing inspiration from its surroundings, history, and architecture.”
Murat Kassanov, Chairman of Hayat Construction Group and Kassanov Hotel Management, shared his enthusiasm: “We are excited to be growing our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts with the signing of the first Vignette Collection in Kazakhstan. IHG has been a great partner with InterContinental Istanbul, and we believe its Vignette Collection brand fits perfectly with our vision for our Meliora development. We look forward to debuting the brand and providing the next generation of luxury and lifestyle travellers with unforgettable luxury experiences once we open our doors in early 2027.”